Although the American Pregnancy Association notes that one of the most significant pregnancy symptoms is a delayed or missed period, many women can spot tell-tale pregnancy signs before this. Women who learn about ovulation, conception and early pregnancy signs may be able to learn they are pregnant before even missing a period.
Step 1
Determine when ovulation occurred. Most women ovulate somewhere between days 11 and 21 of their menstrual cycle, according to the American Pregnancy Association. However, women who chart their basal body temperature, monitor their fertility signs or use ovulation predictor kits can pinpoint a more exact ovulation date. Since conception occurs right after a woman ovulates, knowing when ovulation occurs also signals when conception was possible.
Step 2
Wait for about a week or two after ovulation. It takes approximately 10 to 14 days for a fertilized egg to implant into the lining of the uterus, explains MayoClinic.com. Although it may be tempting to try to determine if a pregnancy exists before this time, it is not very useful to do so since the embryo does not begin producing pregnancy hormones until after implantation.
Step 3
Look for early pregnancy signs. Some women experience light spotting, also referred to as implantation bleeding, or slight cramping when the embryo implants into the uterus. Other women begin experiencing swollen or tender breasts, fatigue or tiredness or nausea.
Step 4
Take an early result pregnancy test. Some women are able to receive a positive result on a sensitive home pregnancy test before they miss a period. However, receiving a negative result before a missed period is common, since the pregnancy hormone may not have had enough time to build up to a high enough level to detect. Going to the doctor and getting a quantitative blood pregnancy test, also referred to as a beta hCG test, may be able to detect pregnancy as soon as 10 days after conception, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Tips and Warnings
- Women who use an early result home pregnancy test should test with the first urination of the morning, as this is when the pregnancy hormone is most concentrated in the urine.
- About 30 percent of fertilized eggs stop developing after implanting in the uterus and producing pregnancy hormones, often referred to as a chemical pregnancy, according to the medical advisory board at BabyCenter.com. Women who do not take an early pregnancy test may never know about these chemical pregnancies, since the bleeding from the miscarriage typically resembles a heavy menstrual period. Women who believe they would have a difficult time coping with a chemical pregnancy may want to consider waiting until after a missed period before taking a pregnancy test.
Things You'll Need
- Early result home pregnancy test
